Interview DON’Ts You Need to Avoid

01.17.17

Landing a job offer isn’t simple. You can have all the right qualifications, yet still get out shined by another candidate. Why? Job interviews go beyond just having the right skill set. Take a look at these big job interview don’ts so that you can be sure to steer clear during your next interview.

Not having an elevator pitch in your back pocket.

You can almost guarantee that your interviewer will say something along the lines of, “Tell me about yourself.” No one knows you better than yourself, so you can totally come up with an answer on the whim, right? Not necessarily. You should be able to summarize your professional accomplishments and skills in a limited, 30-second elevator pitch – and that’s challenging!

Draft your answer ahead of time and then practice, practice, practice. You should be able to deliver this pitch confidently at a moment’s notice.

Showing up totally unprepared.

Nailing a job interview requires much more than just knowing about your own skills and accomplishments. It doesn’t matter if you have all the right qualifications – if you didn’t take the time to research the company and their goals, your interviewer won’t be so impressed.

Before your interview, make sure to check out the company’s website, mission statement, press, and social media channels.

Delivering robotic answers.

There’s a lot of pressure going into a job interview, so naturally it may feel like you’re getting interrogated for a flawless, one-size-fits-all response. However, your answers should be more conversational than robotic. You don’t want to sound over-rehearsed and insincere!

Tip: Use your responses to steer the conversation toward any questions you may have.

Forgetting to ask questions.

Job interviews are two-way streets. You’re not only trying to prove that you’re the right candidate for the position. You also want to make sure that the company is a good fit for you. Not sure what to ask? These 12 questions are a great start!

Another perk of picking your interviewer’s brain is that it shows you’re eager to learn more about the potential role. Brushing off an opportunity to ask questions might leave the interviewer assuming you’re just not that interested.

Failing to follow up.

Another mistake that shows lack of interest is failing to follow up after your interview. Take the time to send a “thank you” email to your interviewer immediately after you return home. After all, they took time out of their day to give you this opportunity.

If your interviewer gave you an estimated date of when they’d have a decision, wait until after that date and follow up again. Keep it simple, though! Politely ask where they are in the process, and use this time to send through additional resources if you have any.